Payment processing is a dynamic and evolving industry that is constantly adapting to new technologies, regulations, and consumer preferences. Some of the recent developments in payment processing are:
The emergence of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which are digital forms of fiat money issued by central banks. CBDCs aim to provide a secure, efficient, and inclusive alternative to cash and traditional payment systems. Several countries, such as China, Sweden, and the Bahamas, have already launched or piloted their own CBDCs, while others, such as the U.S., the U.K., and the Eurozone, are exploring the feasibility and implications of issuing CBDCs1.
The adoption of open banking, which is a regulatory framework that allows third-party providers to access customers’ financial data and offer payment services with their consent. Open banking enables customers to have more choice, convenience, and control over their financial transactions, while fostering competition and innovation in the payments industry. Open banking is already implemented in some regions, such as the European Union (under the PSD2 directive) and the U.K. (under the Open Banking Standard), and is gaining momentum in other markets, such as Australia, Canada, and Singapore2.
The growth of e-commerce and digital payments, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the shift from cash to electronic methods of payment. E-commerce sales reached $4.28 trillion in 2020, up 27.6% from 2019, and are expected to grow further in the coming years3. Digital payments, such as mobile wallets, contactless cards, and QR codes, have also become more popular and convenient for both consumers and merchants, as they offer faster, safer, and cheaper ways to pay online and offline2.
The introduction of new authentication technologies, such as biometrics, facial recognition, and behavioral analytics, to enhance the security and user experience of payment transactions. These technologies use unique physical or behavioral characteristics of customers to verify their identity and authorize payments, reducing the risk of fraud and identity theft. Biometric authentication is already widely used in mobile payments, such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, and is expected to expand to other payment channels in the future4.
The innovation of new payment solutions by fintechs and technology providers, who are challenging the traditional players in the payments industry with their agile, customer-centric, and data-driven approaches. These new solutions include peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, cross-border payments, instant payments, cryptocurrency payments, and payment analytics. Many of these solutions leverage emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud computing, and 5G networks, to offer faster, cheaper, smarter, and more inclusive payment services25.
